National Swimming Champs wrap up as legends go back in time

SWIMMING: The 2019 National Swimming Championships ended with a bang when Australian Olympians spanning several decades came together for the Legends Relay, finalising a record-breaking competition with some exciting nostalgia.

Throughout the competition, Olympians continued to make their mark with Kyle Chalmers claiming four indivudal gold medals across the five day event, along with silver in the 4x100 Medley Relay. In the 100m freestyle, Chalmers topped his Rio 2016 gold-medal-winning time before taking out the 200m edition of the event. The versatile Rio 2016 Olympian then claimed 100m butterfly gold with his final title coming in the frenetic 50m freestyle, electrifying the Adelaide crowd.

Mitch Larkin also won four gold medals throughout the event, capping a spectacular performance with victory in the 200m Backstroke. The 18-time national champion comfortably defeated Tristan Hollard by a little less than a second. Cameron Tysoefinished in third, two seconds behind Larkin.

Another record went down in the Men’s 200m Breaststroke, when Matthew Wilson swam in a Commonwealth and Australian record, ahead of Zac Stubblety-Cook and Samuel Williamson.

Joshua Parrish and Ben Roberts headlined a pulsating 1500m freestyle race. Roberts led for most of the race, but a determined Parrish helped by a boisterous Adelaide crowd came back for the gold medal with Roberts claiming silver and Max Osborn in third.

Nicholas Brownwon his first title of the meet in the Men’s’ 200m butterfly while Bowen Gough finished a close second and David Morgan won bronze.

Three-time Olympian Cate Campbell claimed gold in both the 50m and 100m Freestyleand silver in the Women’s 50m butterfly. Holly Barrattsurprised fans claiming victory from the eighth lane. She defeated in an extremely tight race with NatashaRamsdencollectingbronze.

After claiming silver in the 200m Backstroke and 400m Individual Medley, Calypso Sheridanfinally nabbed gold in the 100m Individual Medley, defeating Abbey Harkin and Blair Evans, who won silver and bronze, respectively.

The Women’s 100m Backstroke also came down to the wire, as Minna Atherton was able to outlast 2018 Youth Olympian Kaylee McKeownand fan-favorite Madison Wilson.

Jenna Strauchset a personal best time of her own in the 200m Breaststroke, claiming gold whileHarkin won silver and Zoe Deaconbronze.

In the championships’ final race, St Peters Western came out on top in the Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay. They also topped the table in the club point score. The team, comprising of Shayna Jack, Harkin, Michaela Ryan and Titmus, won the gold ahead of Nunawading (Sophie Caldwell, Jess Hansen, Kayla Costa and Julia Hawkins) and Brisbane Grammar (Atherton, Sheridan, Gemma Cooney and Gabrielle Scudamore).

In the end, Team Bramham, led by Paralympic Champion, Sam Bramham dominated the race claiming gold, but the real race was for second, as Team Schipper edged out Team Trickett by .09 seconds and Team Kilm finished fourth.

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